Container and locking lid

Abstract

A two-piece, connectable article comprises a first piece and a second piece which fit together in a connected position. One of the first and second pieces has a plurality of integral, extending members having free ends that each define a latch member. The other of the first and second pieces has a facing wall that defines a plurality of apertures positioned to receive the free ends of the extending members in the connected position. The apertures are sized to cause flexing of the latch members as the latch members are placed through the apertures to assume the connected position. The extending members and facing wall are proportioned to permit the latch members to spring back to an original position in the connected position, to effectively prevent separation of the first and second pieces until at least some of the extending members are broken away.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. A two-piece, connectable article which comprises a first piece and a second piece which fit together in a connected position, one of said first and second pieces having a plurality of integral, extending members having free ends that each define a latch member; the other of said first and second pieces having a facing wall that defines a plurality of apertures positioned to receive the free ends of the extending members in said connected position, said apertures being sized to cause flexing of said latch members as said latch members are placed through said apertures to assume said connected position, said extending members and facing wall being proportioned to permit said latch members to spring back toward an original position in said connected position, to effectively prevent separation of the first and second pieces until at least some of said extending members are broken away, at least some of said extending members being exposed to the exterior at a point between the first and second pieces and spaced from their ends to permit them to be easily severed. 
     
     
       2. The article of claim 1 in which said latch members are substantially of T shape. 
     
     
       3. The article of claim 1 in which said latch members are substantially of arrowhead shape. 
     
     
       4. The article of claim 1 in which a second, snap-latch system is provided for latching the first and second pieces together in the connected position, said second snap-latch system permitting repeated, non-destructive connection and separation of the first and second pieces. 
     
     
       5. The article of claim 1 in which one of said pieces has added integral, extending members and latch members that can pass into added apertures of the other of said pieces, said added apertures being oversized to permit effective, manual disengagement of said added, integral, extending members from said added apertures without breaking away of said added extending members. 
     
     
       6. The article of claim 1 in which said first and said second pieces respectively comprise a container and lid. 
     
     
       7. The article of claim 6 in which said container and lid are substantially rectangular in cross-section. 
     
     
       8. The article of claim 1 in which said latch members comprise a hook. 
     
     
       9. The article of claim 8 in which said latch members also comprise a spur member extending away from said hook, for engaging a back surface of said facing wall in locking manner. 
     
     
       10. A two-piece, connectable article which comprises a first piece and a second piece which fit together in a connected position, one of said first and second pieces having a plurality of integral, extending members having free ends that each define a latch member; the other of said first and second pieces having a facing wall that defines a plurality of apertures positioned to receive the free ends of the extending members in said connected position, said apertures being sized to cause flexing of said latch members as said latch members are placed through said apertures to assume said connected position, said extending members and facing wall being proportioned to permit said latch members to spring back toward an original position in said connected position, to effectively prevent separation of the first and second pieces until at least some of said extending members are broken away, said latch members comprising a hook, and also comprising a spur member extending away from said hook, for engaging a back surface of said facing wall in locking manner. 
     
     
       11. The two-piece article of claim 10 in which a second snap-latch system is provided for latching said container and lid together in the connected position, said second snap-latch system permitting repeated, non-destructive connection and separation of the container and lid. 
     
     
       12. The two-piece article of claim 10 in which one of said pieces have added, integral extending members and latch members that can pass into added apertures of the other of said pieces, said added apertures being oversized to permit manual disengagement of said added, integral, extending members from said added apertures, without the breaking away of said added extending members. 
     
     
       13. The two-piece connectable article of claim 10 in which said first piece and said second piece comprise a container and a lid. 
     
     
       14. The two-piece connectable article of claim 13 in which said container and lid are substantially rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
       15. A two-piece, connectable article which comprises a first piece and a second piece which fit together in a connected position, one of said first and second pieces having a plurality of integral, extending members having free ends that each define a latch member; the other of said first and second pieces having a facing wall that defines a plurality of apertures positioned to receive the free ends of the extending members in said connected position, said apertures being sized to cause flexing of said latch members as said latch members are placed through said apertures to assume said connected position, said extending members and facing wall being proportioned to permit said latch members to spring back toward an original position in said connected position, to effectively prevent separation of the first and second pieces until at least some of said extending members are broken away, further in which one of said pieces has added integral, extending members and latch members that can pass into added apertures of the other of said pieces, said added apertures being oversized to permit effective, manual disengagement of said added, integral, extending members from said added apertures without breaking away of said added extending members. 
     
     
       16. The two-piece connectable article of claim 15 in which said first piece and said second piece respectively comprise a container and a lid. 
     
     
       17. The two-piece connectable article of claim 16 in which said container and lid are substantially rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
       18. The article of claim 17 in which said latch members comprise a hook. 
     
     
       19. The article of claim 17 in which said latch members are of substantially T-shape. 
     
     
       20. The article of claim 17 in which said latch members are substantially of arrowhead shape.